Packaging machine



1937. 1.. 1.. SALFISBERG 2,103,390

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 F1. Ei lA IN VEN TOR.

y w X. SaFj ia Q I 1 A TTORNEY.

Dec. 28, 1937. L. 1.. SALFISBERG 2,163,390

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 4 v 1G E -1A l I l I UK? I l L IN V EN TOR.

BY MSW A TTORNEY.

1937. SALFISBERG PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNE Dec. 28, 1937. L. L. SALFlSBE R G" I 2,103,390

PACKAGING MACHINE Filed Aug. 21, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 :LE- E ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE- PACKAGING MACHINE Leroy L. Salflsberg, South Orange, N. J., assignor to Ivers-Lee Company, Newark, N. 3., a corporation of Delaware Application August 21, 1936, Serial No. 97,106

11 Claims.

This invention relates to packaging machinery ing machine for packaging articles in which the articles are propelled and moved in the packaging process by mechanism operating through the packaging material.

A further object comprises providing a packaging machine transfer mechanism for selectively removing articles from a stored position in the packaging operation by picker mechanism operating in conjunction with the material in which the articles are packaged.

Other objects reside. in the details of mechanical construction which will be apparent from the following, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsyforming a part of this specification, in which like reference numerals desig-' nate corresponding parts throughout, and in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of one embodiment of the packaging machine in accordance with the invention;

Fig. 1a is a view of a package unit produced by the machine of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a continuation of the view of Fig. 1 along the dotdash line AA of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a representation of a mechanical detail of an element utilized in the machine depicted in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the representation of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a. top plan view of the machine represented in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of crimping and heating rollers employed in the machine of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view through perforation rollers employed in the machine of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view through slitting rollers employed in the machine of the invention;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of cut-off rollers employed in the machine of the invention;

Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view along the line 9-9 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 10 is anenlarged mechanical detail of a picker mechanism shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 11 is an enlarged view of the operation of elements shown in Fig. 10.

Theinvention contemplates the provision of a system for feeding commodity articles in spaced relationship with packaging material to packaging equipment for producing individually packaged articles. In accordance with the invention, a package unit may be produced which includes several commodity articles grouped together in individual portions of a group package. This form of package may be used for various purposes, as in dispensing samples and the like. For example, in dispensing samples of chewing gum, where it is desired to associate severalsticks of gum of different flavors in a manner such that the sticks are maintained in physical association but individually segregated to distinctly maintain individual flavors. v

Such a package, as may be produced by the machine of the present invention, is disclosed in Fig. 1a. The package unit I is a section of a continuous packaging structure as produced by the machine of the invention. This section, comprising that part of the structure between the severing lines X and Y; includes several commodity articles such as sticks of chewing gum 2, 3 and t, disposed within envelope receptacles 5, t and i. The envelope receptacles 5, 6 and l are formed by continuous strip-like layers of material 8 and 9, joined together in bonding areas comprising a flange surrounding each of the envelopes 5, 6 and l. The material comprising layers 8 and 9 is preferably of transparent thermoplastically coated regenerated cellulose, and the bonding areas are sealed together by interdigitating crimping and heating. It will be seen that the envelope portions 5, 6 and I are of rectangular formation, positioned side by side transversely of the strips 8 and 9, with their major axes extending lengthwise of the strips 8 and 9. These envelopes 5, 6 and l are proportioned to accommodate strip-like commodity articles such as the sticks of chewing gum 2, 3 and 4. In accordance with the invention, such sticks of chewing gum may be of different flavors and the envelope for each stick is completely sealed to prevent an intermingling of the flavors. Thus, the package unit I provides a sample unit for dispensing several related articles in individual segregation.

The apparatus for fabricating such a package structure includes commodity article storage means, packaging material feeding means, picking mechanism, and package forming equipment all interoperating in a composite mechanical unit having a general mounting structure.

General mounting structure The general mounting structure for the packaging apparatus includes a base member II, as may be seen in Fig. 1. The base member I I supports a general wall structure including side walls l2-and II.

A table structure I4 is mounted upon pivots l8 extending through portions of the general mounting structure, and externally adjustable. The other end of the table I4 is adapted to rest upon bosses i8 respectively extending from opposite sides of the general mounting structure. Upright rods I1 and i8 are positioned for engaging the underside of the table I4, and are mounted for vertical reciprocative movement. These rods carry yokes I 8 and 2i which are respectively engaged by portions of a shaft 22 journaled between the walls l2 and I 3 and provided with a hand crank 23.

The shaft 22 is eccentrically arranged with respect to its journaled mountings and the yokes l8 and 2|, whereby angular movement of the hand crank 23 causes the rods l1 and i8 to raise or lower the table l4. A mounting bracket 24 is bolted to the general mounting structure adjacent the wall l3 and includes a-vertical member 28 and a transverse member 26. The table l4 includes a plurality of centrally disposed longitudinally extending openings or slots I0, 28 and 38.

The general mounting structure also includes an electric driving motor, not shown, which is coupled, through a manually operated clutch, to a driving gear 21 mounted on a stub shaft journaled in the side wall i3.

Packaging material supply system In accordance with the invention, the strip 9 of packaging material is derived from roll 28 of such material. This roll of packaging material 28 is rotatably mounted upon a suitable member extending from the general mounting structure. The leader from roll 28, forming strip 9, extends over an idler pulley 29, around a driving roll 3|, and thence in sliding contact over the upper surface of table H to the package forming equipment, which will be hereinafter described. Another roll 32 of packaging material is rotatably mounted on the vertical member 25 and provides a leader forming the strip 8 which extends under idler roller unit 33;

The idler roller unit 33 includes pivoted mounting means for enabling a roller 34 to normally rest against the upper surface of the table l4. This unit may be manually moved to-swing the roller 34 into and out of such position. normal position the idler unit 33 brings the strip 8 into juxtaposition with strip 9 so that both strips may proceed along the upper surface of table l4 to the package forming equipment.

Article storage equipment The article storage equipment utilized in the present embodiment of the invention comprises a plurality of vertical chutes 35, 36 and 31, formed by a chute structure 38 secured to the member 28. These chutes 35, 36 and 31 are respectively disposed above the openings or slots I 8, 20 and 38 in the table l4. The chute structure includes a when chewing gum is thus utilized as a com- In its modity article. each chute may accommodate sticks of gum of a particular flavor.

A shoe structure in the form of a furcated plate 44 extends beneath the structure 38 and depends .therefrom on pins 48, secured in the structure chutes 38-31, as may be seen in Figs. 9 and 10.

Picking mechanism Beneath the table l4 there is provided a picking mechanism including a pair of endless chains 41 and 48, the links of which include the transversely disposed rods 43, as shown in Fig. 9. These rods are provided with sheaths which engage in peripheral notches of pairs of driving wheels II and 82, as shown in Figs. 1 and 9. Each pair of driving wheels is interconnected by a common hub. The hub for driving wheels 82 is mounted on a shaft 53 journaled between walls l2 and i3. Shaft 53 includes a chain driving connection with driving roller 3|, as shown in Fig. l.

The hub for driving wheels 5| is mounted on a shaft 54, journaled between walls l2 and i3. The shaft 54 includes a hand wheel 55 so that the chains 41 and 48 and the picking mechanism can be moved by hand, when desired, for purposes of adjusting the mechanism or when threading the packaging material through the machine when beginning a packaging operation. The shaft 54 is provided with a gear 56 coupled with gear 21 for imparting driving motion to the picker mechanism. The shaft 54 is also provided with another gear 51 which drives the package forming equipment, hereinafter described.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 9-11, the links of chains 41 and 48 support transverse bars 58 therebetween which are provided with upstanding fingers BI, 82 and 83, which operate through the slots I8, 20, and 38 in table l4. Such transverse flnger units are provided on matching alternate links of the two endless chains 41 and 48. Still referring to Figs. 1 and 9-11, the rods 49 project on opposite sides beyond the links of the chains 41 and 48, so that, in their upper path of travel, they engage in channels provided in guide members 64 and 65 secured to the general mounting structure. When the chains are travelling in the direction of the arrow 66, in Fig. 10, the rods 49 engage in the channels of the guide members 64 and 65 to positively feed the fingers 62 in proper spacial position with respect to the upper surface of the table l4.

As shown in Fig. 10, the finger 82, as well as the other fingers of a similar unit, longitudinally move through the opening 28 so thatthe uppermost tip of the finger 62 acts through strip 9 to engage the bottom commodity article of the stack of such articles in tube 38, thereby removing that article from the stack and propelling the same in the direction of the arrow 61 in synchronism 4 with the movement of the strip 9. It will be seen that the guide channels in the members 54 and 65, after proceeding in a horizontal direction, deviate at an angle at the point 68, so that the rods 49, in following these channels, lower the fingers 8l63 out of engagement with the strip 8. As shown in Fig. 10, the finger 62a has been lowered out of engagement with the strip 9 and the article 3 is proceeding to the packaging equipment as conveyed on the surface of the strip 8,

aioasoo it being noted how the strip 3 is brought into juxtaposition with the strip 3 by the roller 30' the effective operation of the fingers 62 can be regulated. As shown in Fig. 11, the table I4 has been raised to an extreme upward position where the shoe 44 is depressed to its upper limit and theflngers 62 operate without engaging the strip 9. Various intermediate points of adjustment may be obtained by manipulation of the hand crank 23.

It will be seen that the picker mechanism as a whole provides means forv acting through the layer ofpackaging material on the surface of the table I4 to simultaneously transfer a plurality of the articles from the storage means so that the same can be conveyed to the packaging equipment for the package forming operation.

Package forming equipment spring 15 which can be adjusted by thumb nut 19.

The rollers 1| and 12 have mechanically complementary crimping surfaces adapted to mutually engage along the plane of thelayers 8 and 9 asthey come off the table 14. The'roller ii is normally held in engagement with the roller 12 by tension of the spring 15, although the nut 10 can be adjusted to vary the-tension or permit threading of the packaging material through the rollers 1| and 12. Fig. 4 illustrates the crimping surfaces of the roller 1i. It will be seen that the crimping surfaces of theroller 1i are disposed to produce the bonding areas as disclosed in Fig;

Referring to Figs. 1, 2,.and 4, a plate 18 is provided adjacent the intersection of rollers 1i and 12 for conveying the package structure to the intersection of roller units 8i and 82. These roller units are mounted upon shafts extending from an extension I30. of the wall I3. As shown in Fig. 4, the unit 9| includes perforating knives 83 and 84 aligned midway between the openings 20 and 30 in table I4 forproducing perforation lines 830., and 84a, as shown in Fig. 1a. These perforation lines extend through the middle of the bonding areas intermediate the envelopes 5 and 6, and envelopes 6 and 1. The rotary knives 93 and 94 each include slitting portions 89 and 91, as shown in Fig. 6, for producing slits 96a and 81a shown in the package structure 01 Fig. 1a.

The roller unit 8| also includes rotary slitting knife elements 80, 88, and 99 which produce the slits 98a and 89a in the package structure of In by means of elements 9| and 92, as shown in Fig. '1. Die roller unit 32 includes afrubber peripheral surfacefor permitting the cutting elements of roller unit 8| to cut into'the same and produce perfect complementary engagement for the perforating and slitting operations.

A. i'urcated stripping plate 93 is carried by a rod 94 extending from the wall extension I341. This stripping plate 93 includes tine members disposed on opposite sides of the perforating knives and 34, as shown in Figs. 2, 2a, and 4.

This plate 93 prevents the package structure from following any tendencyvto wrap around the perforating knives. I a

A plate 95 is mounted adjacent the intersection of roller units 8i and 32 and conveys the perforated package structure to severing roller units 96 and 91. The unit 99, as shown in Figs. 4 and ,8, comprises two halves 99 and 99 which are secured together to clamp blade members IM and I02. These blade members sever the packaging structure along the severing lines X and Y of Fig. 1a to form the individual package units, such as the package unit I of Fig. 1a. The roller 91 is rubber surfaced as in the case of roller 82.

A rubber surfaced roller I03 is rotatably mounted from the wall extension 13a so that the upper surface aligns with the intersection of units 96 and 91. This roller I03 is aligned with complementary roller I which is also surfaced with rubber or the like. These rollers are for the purpose of drawing the package structure out of the severing units 95 and 91. A plate I is provided on the general mounting structure for permitting the package units to be guided into the proper receptacle after passing through roller units Hi3 and I04.

Referrin'gto Fig. 1', a gear I06 is driven by gear 51 and drives gear I01. Gear I01 is mounted on the shaft of roller unit 12 and drives a complementary gear I00 of roller 1i, and also gear I09 which drives a gear H0 for imparting rotary movement tothe unit 82. Gear 0 engages with the complementary, gear III for driving the unit iii. The gear H0 also drivesan idler gear H2 which engages the gear 3 for imparting rotary motion to the unit 91. Thegear ii3-also engages a gear H4 which is a complementary gear carried by unit 90. All of the described gears are proportioned so that the packaging material is linearly moved through the various operating units at a substantially uniform speed.

The gear H3 also engages a gear H5 which drives gear H6 for imparting rotary motion to unit I03. The gear 5 is proportioned so that the unit 3 is rotated at a slightly higher speed than the speed of rotation of units96 and 91, for withdrawing the package units under tension while they are severed by the units 96 and 91.

Although a preferred form of packaging 'machine has been disposed, it will be recognized that various changes and equivalent structures can be made without departing from the intended scope of the invention. Therefore, no limitation is intended other than as imposed by the appended claims.

, What I claim' as new and original and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is: 1. Packaging apparatus comprising, package forming equipment, means for feeding packaging material to said package forming equipment in a substantially horizontal plane, commodity storage means disposed above said plane, and means beneath said material and acting therethrough for disengaging articles from said storage means to cause the same to be deposited upon said material for feeding to said package forming equipment.

2. Packaging apparatus comprising, means for feeding two independent layers of packaging material, one of said layers being fedin a substantially horizontal plane, article storage equipment disposed above said last mentioned layer, picker mechanism disposed beneath said last mentioned layer for acting through said layer to remove articles from said storage equipment to deposit the same on said layer, said layer acting to convey said articles thereon in spaced relationship, sealing equipment spaced along the path of movement of said layers away from said storage means for joining said layers adjacent said articles to enclose the same by bonding areas, means for perforating said bonding areas, and means for-severing said layers intermediate said articles to form bonded and perforated package units.

3. Packaging apparatus comprising, means for feeding independent layers of packaging mate rial, one of said layers being fed in a substantially horizontal plane, article storage means disposed above said plane, a picker mechanism beneath said layer and acting therethrough for removing articles from said storage means to deposit the same in spaced positions upon said layer, crimping rollers disposed upon opposite sides of said layers and provided with heating means for heat sealing said layers in bonding areas adjacent said articles to form package enclosures therefor, rotary perforating means for perforating said layers between said articles, and severing means for severing said layers between said articles to produce sealed packages having opening guide-perforations therein.

4. Packaging apparatus comprising, package forming equipment, means for feeding packaging material to said package forming equipment in a substantially horizontal plane, commodity storage means disposed above said plane adjacent said material, finger means positioned beneath said layer and adapted to act through said layer above said plane to remove articles from said storage means to cause the same to be deposited upon said layer for feeding thereon to said package forming equipment.

5. Packaging apparatus comprising, package forming equipment, means for feeding packaging material including a table upon which said material slides towards said equipment, and article propelling means having parts acting through said table for acting through said material to propel articles on the surface thereof towards said equipment.

6. Packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 5 in which said table and said propelling means are relatively adjustable to predeterrnine the effective action of said parts with respect to said material and the articles thereon.

7. Packaging apparatus comprising, means for feeding independent layers of packaging material including a flat table upon which one of said layers may slide, said table having at least one opening therein, storage means for storing a plurality of commodity articles in file formation above said opening with the bottom-most one of said articles adjacent said layer, a plurality of successively effective finger elements operable through said opening for engaging the other side of said layer to cause'articles to be removed from said storage means in sequence and deposited in spaced relationship on said layer, and package forming equipment for Joining said layers in bonding areas adjacent said spaced articles to produce package formations.

8. Packaging apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in which said table and said finger elements can be relatively raised and lowered to regulate the action 'of said finger elements.

9. Packaging apparatus comprising, package forming equipment, a table adjacent said equipment, means for feeding packaging material to said equipment with a layer thereof sliding over said table, storage means positioned above said table for maintaining a plurality of commodity articles in file formation above said layer, and including a shoe engaging one surface of said layer, and a picker mechanism disposed on the other side of said layer and having parts thereof acting through said material between parts of said shoe to pick articles from said file formation to deposit the same in spaced formation on the surface of said layer as it slides over said table to said package forming equipment, said package forming equipment acting to bond said layers in areas adjacent said articles to produce a package formation.

10. Packaging apparatus comprising, package forming equipment, a table having a plurality of openings therein, means for feeding packaging material to said package forming equipment with at least one layer thereof sliding over said table and over said openings, storage means for maintaining commodity articles individually adjacent said layer opposite said openings, and picker mechanism having a series of fingers acting through each of said openings for acting through said material to remove plural articles from said storage meansspaced in groups transversely and longitudinally of said layer, said layer acting to convey said articles to said package forming equipment for enclosing said articles with said material in said spaced formation.

11. Packaging apparatus comprising, a table having a plurality of openings therein, means for feeding packaging material with at least one layer thereof sliding over said table, storage means for storing commodity articles in a plurality of stacks on said layer in positions respectively above said, openings, shoe means engaging said layer adjacent said articles, picker mechanism having ,a plurality of sets of fingers consecutively acting through said openings for engaging said material between parts of said shoe means to individually remove articles from their stacked formation, whereupon said articles are conveyed on said layer over the surface of said table, heated bonding rollers for heat crimping said material to join said layers in bonding areas intermediate said articles, perforation means for perforating said layers intermediate said articles, severing means for severing said layers intermediate said articles to produce package units each having a plurality of individually packaged articles therein drawn respectively from said stacks, and driving means for actuating said picker mechanism, said bond rollers, said perforated means and said severing means in timed relationship for performing the operations specified.

LEROY L. SALFIS'BERG. 

